Things to do

10 Best Things To Do in Sydney

Sydney Travel Guide โ†’

Sydney's combination of harbour, city, and beach gives it more range than its postcard image suggests. Here are ten things worth your time. Walking or cycling across the Harbour Bridge delivers views back toward the Opera House, or climb the BridgeClimb for a more dramatic vantage point over the entire harbour. The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk links several of Sydney's best beaches via a spectacular clifftop path, with ocean pools and cafรฉs along the entire route. The Manly ferry doubles as one of the best-value scenic experiences in the city โ€” harbour views for the price of a regular public transport ticket. The Rocks, Sydney's oldest neighbourhood, sits right at the foot of the Harbour Bridge and rewards an unhurried wander through its historic lanes. The Royal Botanic Garden offers green space and harbour views within easy walking distance of the city centre. A swim at Bondi Beach, ideally followed by brunch at one of the surrounding cafรฉs, is as close to a quintessential Sydney morning as exists. The Blue Mountains, about ninety minutes by train, offer the Three Sisters rock formation and genuine hiking trails as a day-trip change of scenery. The Art Gallery of New South Wales holds a strong collection of Australian and international art, worth a few hours for visitors with any interest in either. Taronga Zoo, reachable by a scenic ferry ride across the harbour, combines wildlife viewing with some of the best skyline views available from any vantage point in the city. Finally, Surry Hills' laneways and markets offer a more local, less touristy alternative to the busier harbour-adjacent neighbourhoods. Get an Opal card for trains, buses, and ferries, and always swim between the flags at surf beaches โ€” rip currents are a genuine hazard outside lifeguard-patrolled areas.